The Government is considering making major changes to the way we MOT our vehicles. Changes to the test may come as part of a way to ease the financial burden on British households amid the pressures of the rising cost of living. Drivers may only be required to submit their vehicle for test every two years instead of the current yearly requirement.
WHY THE CONSIDERATION FOR CHANGE?
The prime minister wants to explore ‘innovative ways’ to try and ease the cost of living.
It has been suggested by the current Transport Secretary to reduce the need of an MOT renewal to every two years, rather than one to cut the costs for UK households. Proposals have already been sent to the Government’s domestic and economic strategy committee for further discussion.
Under present laws, every vehicle that reaches three-years-old or over MUST have a current MOT certificate which must be renewed every 12 months.
The maximum cost of an MOT test currently stands at £54.85 with motorcyclist paying a maximum of £29.65 for a standard motorcycle. The transport secretary is looking in to the possibility of helping drivers by extending current renewal times but as many pointed out on social media, changing the rules to biennial MOT’s would save drivers a maximum of just £27.43 a year!
This is a complete u-turn for the government having only recently stepped away from switching MOT’s to every 2 years on the grounds of road safety.
WILL IT ACTUALLY SAVE COSTS GOING
FORWARD?
A spokesperson for motoring organisation the AA feels drivers will ultimately lose out through the new plans, especially if repairs are required.
Moving the annual MOT spend of £55 to every two years could potentially make things worse for drivers with higher repair bills and potentially make the roads more dangerous. A recent poll of drivers by the AA revealed support for the annual test who like the security the an annual health check provides.
The recent AA Poll also revealed that drivers would rather see changes at the pump or money spent on expanding Park and Ride schemes so drivers can avoid driving into innercities and enduring the ‘Clean Air Zone’ charges most have now introduced.
The present MOT test is designed to highlight major and dangerous vehicle defects and highlights the importance of keeping our vehicles in a safe and roadworthy condition.
The intended plans could also place risk on jobs within the garage industry. It would be a significant blow to thousands of independent garages and the entire automotive supply chain, who were able to remain open throughout the coronavirus pandemic, ensuring the safe and affordable mobility of essential workers and members of the public.
WHAT ARE THE PUBLIC’S AND THE MOTOR
INDUSTRY THOUGHTS ON BIENNIAL TESTING?
The Government feel there is now clear support for switching to holding MOT tests every two years despite stepping away from the proposals in the past. 1,200 responses were gathered through a Call for Evidence which found 80 percent of drivers agreed that MOT tests should be done on a biennial basis.
Motor industry experts feel that In times of economic hardship drivers will cut back on servicing their cars and it’s the annual MOT that has kept the UK road safety at high levels thanks to the checks it involves with one-in-three vehicles failing its MOT every year.
Whilst the industry shares the widespread concern over rising prices and the current squeeze on household incomes, safety must come first. Whilst todays vehicles are more reliable than ever, regular MOTs ensure safety critical components such as brakes and tyres which are affected by normal wear and tear are properly inspected and maintained.
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